Guiding Set Up - First Light

[moondog]

As mentioned in my post on the Members Equipment gallery, I've got a new set up.

This is a Skywatcher ED 80 imaging scope, an ST80 guide scope and a QHY5 guide camera.

The scopes sit on a TS duo mounting bar on an HEQ5 mount. I'm using PHD guiding software.

Last night was clear in patches so I set up and connected the USB camera cable to the laptop and the ST4 guide cable to the mount. Roughly Polar Aligned mount.

Turned the scope on Altair and fired up PHD on the laptop. Focussed the guide scope and found a faint guide star. Clicked on it and PHD started tracking the star. Pressed the 'target' icon in PHD and it started to guide the scope. Went inside for 15 minutes. When I came out PHD was still guiding the scope.

As a check I connected the DSLR at prime focus, swung to M27 and took a single 5 minute image. No darks, flats or bias.

When I carefully looked at the downloaded image there wasn't any trailing. I attach this image. I only stretched it in PS and did a bit of background smoothing. Didn't touch the star sizes or shapes.

(click to enlarge)

Full Frame image

(click to enlarge)

Enlarged bit around bright star above M27

In the corners of the full frame the stars are radially elongated a bit. This is scope coma (I think). To get rid of this I'd need a field flattener - but for the moment I'll crop future image a bit instead - it's cheaper.

MD

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

That seems to be working perfectly MD. Glad you're having some good luck.

Kaptain Klevtsov

[CELESCOPE]

Thats pretty impressive John, bet you are pleased with that one , not stopping you now , need some clear skies myself so i can get cracking. well done

Rog

[MartinB]

Wonderful result MD. You're up and running now!

[barkis]

Very satisfactory outcome there MD. Smiles all round mate.

Good stuff.

Ron.

[jonifive]

Well done MD

Sounds like a great setup, these QHY5's are getting glowing reviews.

JV

[Saso]

This is a really good first try. For five minutes long is excellent.

Saso

[SteelRat]

Great stuff MD 8) Like it.

[bern]

Thanks for the feedback MD, nice when it all works so painlessly

bern

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

The QHY1, is that the same as the QHY5 on Bern's website, or an even cheaper one?

Kaptain Klevtsov

[moondog]

KK

Sorry - it's my typo - it should read QHY5 !

Well spotted - I will update my post

:oops:

MD

[MikeD]

Nice one, a big mile stone for you.

Mike.